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Actor James Gandolfini, best known for his iconic role as conflicted mobster Tony Soprano on the seminal HBO TV series The Sopranos, died of a heart attack Wednesday while vacationing in Italy. He was 51.

The New Jersey born and bred actor was also a sports fan, sometimes spotted at games in the Jersey area — New York Jets, New York Rangers, Rutgers football — and beyond, like Game 4 of last year’s Stanley Cup final in Los Angeles.

After news of Gandolfini's death surfaced, the Jets tweeted: "We're deeply saddened to hear about the passing of our friend James Gandolfini. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family & friends." His alma mater tweeted: "Rutgers remembers one of its own: 'Sopranos' star and legendary actor James Gandolfini."

As a tribute to Gandolfini, we visit a few of Tony Soprano's brushes with the sports world.

Tony bumps into then Jets coach Eric "The Mangenius" Mangini at his favourite restaurant: